blaney



(No Model.)

W. H. BLANEY.- a Y' LOKET.

No. 253,668. Patented Pebl/1,1882.

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WITNESSEhS: M' M,

INVBNTOR ATTORNEYS.

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, UNITED kSTATES PATENT -rrrca WILLIAM H. BLANEY, OF A'ITLEBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO S'IURDY, BROTHERS & CO., OF SAME PLAGE.

LooiET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 253,668, dated February 14, 1852.

I Application filed December 16,1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Beit known thatI, WILLIAMH. BLANEY, of Attleborough, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lockets; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact-description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Y Figure 1 is a perspective view of the single loeket. Fig. 2 is a plan ot" the same with one side removed and the slide in its normal position within the ease. is a similar view, except that the slide is projected from the ease. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the slide. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on line am, Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section on line y y, Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a side view of the sliding catch-bar. Fig/8 is an end view of a double locket,sho\v ing both slides .projected from the case. Fig. 9 is a cross-section of the upper portion of the ease of such locket. v

My invention relates to an improvement in lockets and analogous articles ofjewelry, more especially such as are designed and adapted for containing pictures.

The improvement consists in the combination and arrangementof picture-holding slides, springs for forcingthem out of the ease of the locket, and catches for holding such slides normally retracted within the ease, and also releasing them when desired, as hereinafter fully set forth.

Referring in the first instance to the single locket showninFig. l, the letterAindicates the flat rectangular hollow case, which may, however, be constructed in various other forms and also ornamented in any preferred manner. The said ease is slotted or open at one side to adapt it to receive the slide B, which is of similar outline and suitably constructed to receive and hold pictures on paper, glass, porcelain, &e.

At the inner side of the case A, which is opposite the slot or opening, is arranged a fiat or ribbon spring, a.. The free end of this spring presses against the inner edge of the slide B, thus tendingto force it out ofthe case A. When the slide is forced in, the spring is compressed, 50 as shown in Fig. 2, so as to occupy minimum space, and when expanded in V form, as in Fig. 3, the slide is'forced out of the case and held in that position, as shown. In order that the slide may not, however, be forced entirely out of the case A, I provide it with an ear, b, at each inner corner, which engages with a correspondingshoulder, e, at theend of the slot.

The means I employ for holding the slide B retractile within the case A, also for releasing it at will, is a movable springactuated catch, 6o whose construction, arrangement, and operation are as follows: AThe said catch is in the nature of a beveled lateral projection or shoulder, d, formed on the np'per end of a sliding bar, C, which is arranged centrally and lengthwise of the case A on the inner side of the backof the same. The lower end of this bar C projects through the case, and is provided with a knob or other ornamental appendage,f. A downward pressure is applied to'the barC by means 7o of a ribbon-spring, c, whose middle part rests on the upper side of said catch d. Such pressure tends to hold the catch d engaged with the slide B, which is provided with a notch, h, in its upper edge to receive it. The said projec- 7 5 tion or shoulder, constituting the catch proper, is vertical on one side and beveled on the under side adjacent to the slot in the ca-se. Hence, when the slide B is forced in against the stress of the spring a, the bevel of the catch rides over 8o the top of the slide until it reaches the notch-h, when the spring e causes it to drop into the latter and lock the slide in placethat is to say, the slide is held locked in the retracted position by engagement ofthe vertical side of 8 5 the catch d with the corresponding side of the notch hin the top edge of the former. Gouversely,\vhen the catch d is forced up by pressing on the knob end of bar C, the slide B will l be released and instantly forced out of the case 9o by the expansion of the spring, as shown in Fig. 3.

As a means for assisting in holding the slide B steady in place Within the case A, so that it may not rattle when moved quickly, I provide the slide with ears z' at each end, which, when it is closed, as in Fig. 2, rest on the side of the case.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I'have illustrated my preferred construction of a double locket--that is roo to say, a locket having' two slides B and two pockets or compartments to receive them. Each slide and pocket is constructed as in the single locket above described, and also similarly combined with coacting springs and catches; but in place ot' employing two sliding bars I l'orm both catches proper on a single bar, Fig. til-that is to say, the bar is arranged to slide in a lengthwise grooveon one side of the partition lr, that separates the two pockets, and has a beveled projection or catch, d, on each side, one ofwhich catches projects through a slot in the partition D, as shown in Fig. 9. When the slides B are thrown out they project on opposite sides ot' the case; and I may so arrange the catches that theT majT be disengaged successively instead ot' simultaneously, so that one slide shall be forced out of the case in advance of the other.

I also propose to apply a guard for the knob end of the bar C, if found desirable or necessary.

1. Alocket or analogous article ot' jewelry, consisting of a slotted case,a slide adapted to be contained therein, a spring for forcing the slide out of the case, and a spring-actuated catch adapted for use in holding the slide retraeted, and also for releasing it when desired, substantially as hereinbefore specified.

2. The combination, with the case ot'a locket or analogous article of jewelry, of the notched picture-holding slide, adapted to work in and out through a slot in the side thereof, a spring arranged between the inner sides of the case and slide, the spring-actuated catch, beveled as described, to adapt it for being raised automatically when the slide is forced in, and for engagement therewith and disengagement therefrom, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination, with the locket-case having one side slotted, as specified, of the notched slide, the spring for forcing out the latter, and the spring-actuated sliding bar, which projects from the case, and has a beveled catch formed on upper end, to operate as and for the purpose shown and described.

4. The combination, with the locket-case provided with a lateral slot, of a slide having ears for engagement with portions of the case when forced out, and a spring, all arranged as shown and described, to operate as specified.

5. The combination, with the locket-case having a lateral slot, a notched picture-holding slide having ears on its outer side, as shown, aspring arranged within the case, and a spring locking-catch, all as shown and described, whereby the said slide is held steady in place within the case, as specified.

WILLIAM HENRY BLANEY.

Witnesses:

EDWARD P. CLAFLIN, LYDIA A. DUNHAM. 

